Method and System for Visual Network Searching

ABSTRACT

An embodiment provides for conducting searches on a network. A search request is signaled over the network to a search engine. A search result is received that identifies a plurality of network addresses. Multiple pages are automatically rendered, each page being located by a corresponding network addresses in the search result.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/246,740, entitled “Method and System for Visual Network Searching,”filed Oct. 7, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/843,286, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,537, entitled“Method and System for Visual Network Searching,” filed Apr. 25, 2001and naming A. Eyal and S. Shor as inventors; which claims benefit ofpriority to U.S. Prov. Patent No. 60/200,716, entitled “Method andSystem for Visual Network Searching,” filed Apr. 27, 2000 and naming A.Eyal and S. Shor as inventors; wherein all of the aforementionedpriority applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of searching for digital informationon a network. In particular, the invention relates to network searchingusing visual feedback.

2. Background

Search engines exist on the Internet to locate web sites that match aparticular search criteria. Users on terminals may submit search termsand requests in order to receive results that are determined to matchthe search request. The results are usually provided to the user as alist of links. The user must select each link to view the correspondingpage. When one page is opened, the user must select to return to thepage having the search result to select another link. Thus, to view eachlink located by a search result, the user may have to make one or twoselections, requiring multiple web pages to be loaded and/or displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention allow users to search for web pages on theInternet, and to view search results in an animated fashion. In anembodiment, a search engine returns a response to a query of a user.Rather than provide the result as a compilation of selectable links, apage for a first link specified in the result is rendered for the user.A page for a next link may automatically be rendered after the page forthe first link is displayed, creating a slide show effect.Alternatively, the user may be provided a user-interface for selectingto view a page for another link. The page for the other link is thendisplayed without requiring the viewer to actually select the link tothat page.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system, under an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method to display network sites in response to asearch request, under an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method to display web pages in response to a searchrequest, under an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another method to display network sites in responseto a search request, under an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a system including verification and caching of URLs in aresponse to a search request, under an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for a system such as shown in FIG. 5, wherecaching and displaying the search result are performed as independentprocesses, under an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for a system such as shown with FIG. 5,under an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a user-interface, under an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A. System Overview

Embodiments of the invention display resources of information on networksites that match a search request. The response to the search request ismade by way of displaying one or more network sites that match thesearch request. The network sites can be displayed in a sequential andanimated manner, without requiring additional selection or interactionby the end user.

Embodiments of the invention include several advantages over other knownsystems. In other systems, the search result includes links to networksites, listed in selectable form. The user is then required to selecteach link manually, and then recall the search results after viewingeach link before selecting another link. In contrast, a user under anembodiment of the invention is able to view network sites in the searchresult, without having to select each link manually. Moreover, the userdoes not have to recall the search results to select each additionallink in the search result, or to browse additional sites.

In an Internet application, an embodiment of the invention displays oneor more web pages in response to a search request. The feedback to theuser may be in the form of a slide show, where web pages matching thesearch request are sequentially displayed to the user. The web pages maybe displayed automatically. Alternatively, the user may be provided anavigation control on a user-interface to select web pages of otherlinks in the search result.

B. System Diagram

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system 100 for providing visualnetwork content feedback in response to a search request, under anembodiment of the invention. The visual feedback may be in the form ofdisplaying resources of the multiple network sites comprising theresponse. For example, the system 100 may automatically display webpages in a sequential manner to Internet sites that are determined tomatch a criteria set forth in the search request.

In an embodiment, system 100 includes terminal and server sidecomponents that combine to provide the visual feedback. On the terminal,system 100 includes a network browser 110 and a search user-interfacemodule 115. The network browser 110 includes an Application ProgrammableInterface (API) 112 that exposes its functionality. The search engine120 communicates across a network with one or more network searchengine(s) 130.

In an embodiment, the network is the Internet. Other embodiments may beimplemented on any network that carries digital information, such aslocal-area networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WAN), Extranets,Intranets, Internet, and wireless networks, or networks utilizingwireless transmissions. An example of a network for use with anembodiment of the invention includes a network operating under atransmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP). Embodiments ofthe invention may also be employed on proprietary WANS, such as AmericaOnline™. Thus, discussion of embodiments employed on the Internet areexemplary, and equally applicable to other types of networks describedabove.

A user on user terminal 10 signals a search request using the searchuser-interface module 115. The search request is received by searchmodule 120. The search request may be in the form of a text based entry.Alternatively, the search request may include a voice command. Theuser-interface 115 or search module 120 may interpret the voice commandfor the network search engine 130.

The search module 120 signals the search request to a network searchengine 130. The search engine 130 may be configured for the networkbeing used. In an embodiment, search engine 130 includes Internet websites such as Yahoo®, Lycos and Infoseek®. The search request may bemade to more than one network search engines. The system 100 isconfigurable to identify and retrieve only the best matching URLs in theresults returned from each of the network search engines 130. In anembodiment, the system 100 then uses only the best matching URLs todisplay to the user. In some embodiments, the network search enginesinclude internal search engines located on specific web sites. Forexample, the network search 30 engine may be located on an e-commercesites such as Amazon.com™ or Ebay™.

The network search engine 130 returns a result in response to the searchrequest. The result is received by search module 120. Unless no matchesare identified, the result includes one or more URLs. Each URL in theresult locates a network site having resources that match the searchrequest, according to network search engine 130. As an example, thenetwork resources may correspond to text appearing on the network site,or identifiers used to identify the site with a search engine.

Once network search engine 130 responds, the search module 120 controlsthe network browser 110 to access and display the site corresponding toeach URL in the search result. The search module 120 controls thenetwork browser 110 through commands transmitted to the API 112. In anembodiment, the search module 120 signals each URL with a command tonetwork browser 110 so as to cause the network browser component tooutput a network resource of each URL in the search result. For example,the search module 120 signals the API 112 to <browse(URL)> for each URLin the search result.

The commands may be sent sequentially to for each URL in the searchresult. Thus, when the search result contains multiple URLs, the networkresources are outputted sequentially by the browser 110. For example, inInternet applications, a web page for each URL in the search result maybe displayed in a sequential manner. The display of the web pages may bemade to simulate a slide show.

Further, API 112 may be signaled to display web pages on the endterminal in a full-screen mode. Since the display of the search resultsis animated and requires no user input, the full-screen mode can beimplemented without displaying control objects on the display.

C. Flow Processes for Embodiments of the Invention

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow process for a system such as described withFIG. 1, operating on a network such as the Internet. For discussion,network browser 110 is assumed to be a web browser, and components andfeatures described with FIG. 1 are assumed to be adapted for theInternet.

In step 210, search module 120 receives the search request from userterminal 10. In response to receiving the search request, in step 220,the search module 120 retrieves URLs to web resources that match thesearch request.

In step 220, search module 120 may access a web search engine. The websearch engine then identifies URLs to web pages that match the searchcriteria.

In step 230, search module 120 controls the web browser 110 of userterminal 10 to display a web page of a first URL retrieved in step 220.The first URL is signaled with control information to the API 112 of webbrowser 110.

In step 240, search module 120 controls the web browser 110 to display aweb page of a second URL retrieved in step 120. The web browser 110 maybe controlled so as to display a web page of the second URL after theweb page of the first URL is displayed.

In an embodiment, web pages of additional URLs contained in the searchresult may be displayed in a manner similar to web pages of the firstand second retrieved URLs. Thus, the search result may be provided asmultiple web pages that are displayed on, for example, a monitor of userterminal 210. The web browser may be controlled by search module 120 todisplay the web pages in the search result in an animated manner.

Once all the web pages of URLs in the search result are displayed, theprocess in FIG. 2 may be repeated. Thus, the web pages may beredisplayed. This process may continue until the user signals otherwise.When the web pages are re-displayed, the web browser 110 has alreadycached the corresponding URLs. Thus, the display of the web pages mayoccur more quickly, or in a more continuous and animated fashion.

FIG. 3 is a flow process for another embodiment of the invention,employed with a network browser for networks including Internet,wide-area networks such as America Online™, and Intranets.

In step 310, a search request is received by search module 120. Then instep 320, search module 120 retrieves URLs to network resources thatmatch the search request. Each URL accesses a corresponding networkresource. The network resources comprise data that forms an output onthe user terminal 10, once the network resources are accessed by thenetwork browser 110.

In step 330, the search module controls the network browser 110 tooutput a resource corresponding to a first one of the retrieved URLs.The resource outputted may correspond to, for example, a web page.

In step 340, a navigation control is provided to a user on the userterminal 10. The user can select to output a resource corresponding to asecond one of the retrieved URLs using the navigation control. Anexample of a navigation control is provided with FIG. 8. The navigationcontrol may be provided by search user-interface module 115. Thenavigation control may include a user-interactive feature that signalssearch module 120 to access a next URL from the retrieved URLs. Thenavigation control may also provide user-interactive features to replaya resource from one of the URLs, or to skip to a specific URL. Thenavigation control may also “pause” the output on user terminal 10 of anetwork resources corresponding to one of the retrieved URLs. Othernavigation controls are described with FIG. 8.

In step 350, network browser 110 is controlled to output a resourcecorresponding to one the retrieved URLs, based on a control signalreceived by the navigation controls. For example, a “next” signal may beprovided through input to the navigation control, causing a networkresource corresponding to a second retrieved URL to be outputted on theuser terminal 10.

Additional network resources of other URLs contained in the searchresult may be provided by repeating steps 340 and 350. Once all URLs inthe search response are outputted via network browser 110, the processmay end. In an embodiment, the search module 120 may be configured torepeat signaling each URL in the search result to network browser 110once all URLs in the search request are signaled. Thus, the process maybe continuously repeated until the user signals to stop the output ofthe network resources.

In an embodiment, the order in which the network sites are displayed tothe user are random. In another embodiment, the order in which thenetwork sites are displayed to the user correspond to the order ofmatching each site is designated by the network search engine 130.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow process under another embodiment of theinvention. For illustration, the embodiment of FIG. 4 is assumed tooperate with a terminal coupled to the Internet.

In this embodiment, the search request is received in step 410. Inresponse, step 420 provides that a plurality if URLs are retrieved thathave web pages determined to match the search criteria. In step 430, theweb browser on user terminal 10 is signaled to output a web pagecorresponding to one of the URLs. The web page may be a site thatcontains one or more web resources matching the search criteria.

In step 435, a determination is made as to whether any other URLs existamong the retrieved URLs. If the determination is negative, the processis done.

In step 440, a navigation signal may be received through a navigationcontrol interface. Then, in step 450, the web browser is controlled tooutput a web page corresponding to one of the retrieved URLs. This isdone is response to the navigation signal being received in step 440.

In step 460, a timing signal may be actuated to retrieve a web page of asecond URL from the retrieved URLs. For example, search module 120 maybe programmed to provide the timing signal after one second. The timingsignal may be configurable by the user on user terminal 10, using aninterface such as described with FIG. 8. For example, the user mayselect the frequency at which each web page is displayed in response toa search request. In step 470, upon receiving the timing signal, the webbrowser on user terminal 10 is controlled to output a web pagecorresponding to another one of the retrieved URLs.

In step 480, a next URL among the retrieved URLs is loaded into webbrowser 110. The process returns to step 435.

In an embodiment, steps 460 and 470 are a default in case a navigationsignal is not received. That is, unless the user on user terminal 10instructs otherwise, the search module 120 will use a timing signal todetermine when the next web page corresponding to a next URL in theretrieved URLs is displayed.

D. Embodiment Including Verification and Caching

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment in which a system 500 includesverification and caching functions. In this embodiment, web browser 110includes a visible instance 510 and an invisible instance 514.

As with previous embodiments, a user enters a search request throughsearch user-interface module 115. The search user-interface module 115signals the search request to search module 120. The search module 120forwards the search request to one or more search engines residing onthe network. A search result comprising one or more URLs is providedfrom each of the network search engines used. The search module 120 thensignals API 112 of visible instance 510 a command to browse each of theURLs in the search request. The search module signals the API 512 of theinvisible instance 514 a command to browse the URLs in the searchrequest as well. The relative sequence in how the visible instance 510and the invisible instance 514 are signaled the URL are described ingreater detail with FIG. 7.

The invisible instance 514 may be employed by search module 120 forpurpose of verifying links and/or caching URLs returned in the searchresults. The search module 120 may communicate with the invisibleinstance 514 through a corresponding API 512.

A caching portion 522 of search module 120 caches the network resourceof the URLs in the search request prior to the web browser displayingthe network resources of the URLs. Under an embodiment of the invention,when the search results are returned by the network search engine 130,the visible instance 510 of web browser 110 loads a current URL from thesearch result. The visible instance 510 of web browser 110 then displaysresources on the site of the URL using search user-interface module 115.Concurrently, the invisible instance 514 loads a next URL retrieved inthe search request, so that the resource of the next URL, or next URLs,in the search result is cached before the network resource of the nextURL is displayed.

A verification portion 524 of the search module 120 verifies thatnetwork resource identified by the next URL returned with the searchresult can be loaded to display or otherwise output network resources onthe user terminal 110. When network resources of a current URL areloaded in the visible instance 510, the verification portion 524 loadsthe network resources of the next URL in the invisible instance 514. Ifnetwork resources are returned for the next URL signaled to theinvisible instance 514, the next URL is verified by the verificationportion 524. In an embodiment, the next URL is verified if the networkresource of the next URL is available and unbroken. Only the networkresources of verified URLs are loaded by the visible instance 510.

The verification portion 524 and caching portion 522 occur independentlyof the network resources loaded in the visible instance 510. Thus, thecaching portion 522 and verification portion 524 may cache and verifynetwork resources of additional URLs while the visible instance 510 hasloaded network resources of a previous URL.

In an embodiment such as shown by FIG. 4, the web browser 110 and searchmodule 120 reside on the user terminal 10. However, in otherembodiments, portions of the search module 120, such as the verificationportion 524 reside on a server accessible to user terminal 10 through anetwork such as the Internet.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment where caching and displaying URLresources identified by the search result occurs concurrently andindependently of each other. This process may be employed with a systemsuch as described with FIG. 5. The system attempts to cache the webpages identified by the search request while web pages are individuallybeing displayed on the end terminal. Thus, the system may attempt tocache all the web pages located in the search while concurrentlydisplaying web pages located by the search.

In step 610, the search result is returned from the network searchengine 130. For purpose of description, the search result is assumed tocontain a plurality of URLs. Once the search result is returned, theuser terminal 10 concurrently performs a caching process 612 and adisplay process 614. For this embodiment, the caching and displayprocess are performed independent of each other.

In the caching process 612, step 620 is performed to load a URL resourceinto an invisible instance 514 of the web browser. In step 625, adetermination is made as to whether the URL resource was loaded. If thedetermination is negative, then step 620 is performed again. In step630, the next URL resource in the search result is loaded into theinvisible instance 514 of the web browser. In step 635, a determinationis made as to whether the next URL resource was loaded. If thedetermination is negative, step 630 is repeated.

If the next URL resource was loaded, then in step 640 a determination ismade as to whether all URL resources in the search result have beencached. If all resources have been cached, then the caching process isdone in step 645. If additional caching is required, then step 630 isrepeated.

In an alternative embodiment, caching may be terminated prior to all ofthe URL resources in the search result being displayed. This may occurif all of the search results are displayed, or if the display process614 is stopped.

The display process 614 is performed independently of the cachingprocess. In step 650, a URL resource from the search result is loadedinto the visible instance 510 of the web browser. In step 660, the nextURL resource identified by the search result is loaded into the visibleinstance 510. The next URL resource may be loaded upon the visibleinstance 510 being signaled to load the next URL resource. The signal tothe visible instance 510 may be a timing signal. Alternatively, userinput may cause the next URL resource to be loaded.

In step 665, a determination is made as to whether the display processis completed. If the determination is positive, then the display process614 is complete in step 670. Otherwise, step 660 is repeated. Thedisplay process 614 may be complete if, for example, the display process614 is timed out. Alternatively, the display process 614 may be completeif user input stops the display process 614. For example, the user mayselect an icon on the user-interface 800 (See FIG. 8) to stop ananimated slide show displaying the URL resources identified by thesearch result.

In an embodiment, the caching process 612 is terminated once the displayprocess 614 is complete. Also, in an embodiment, the display process 614may continue after the caching process 612 is complete.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow process for use with system 500, under anembodiment of the invention. The system 500 is assumed in thisembodiment to operate on a network such as the Internet.

In step 710, the search result is returned from the network searchengine 130. For purpose of description, the search result is assumed tocontain a plurality of URLs. In step 720, a current URL is loaded intothe visible instance 510 of web browser 110. In this step, the currentURL corresponds to a first URL in the search request.

In step 730, a determination is made as to whether the current URL isverified. To be verified, a web resource has to be returned when thecurrent URL is loaded into the web browser. For example, a web page ofthe URL has to be displayed on user terminal 10. The determination instep 730 may be negative if the URL is a broken link. The link may bebroken if, for example, the web resource is no longer available. The URLmay also be broken for other reasons, such as network congestion orfailure by a hosting server of the URL. The determination in step 730may also be negative if the web site of the URL is unavailable, such asin the case when there is traffic blocking access to the Internet. Ifthe determination is step 730 is negative, a next URL in the searchresult is assumed to be the current URL in step 735. Then, step 720 isrepeated.

If the determination is step 730 is positive, the current URL is loadedto be verified by the visible instance 510, and the web page (or webresource) of the URL is displayed to the user of user terminal 10. Thesearch user-interface module 115 may be used to display the web page.Concurrently in step 740, the next URL in the search result is loadedinto the invisible instance 514 of web browser 110.

In step 750, a determination is made as to whether the next URL isverified. The determination is made by the invisible instance 414 of webbrowser 110. If determination is negative, in step 740 is repeated for anext URL. If the determination in step 750 is positive, then theinvisible instance 514 has received a web page (or web resource) fromthe next URL. Thus, the next URL is not a broken link, and has anavailable web page.

In step 760, a determination is made as to whether a signal has beenreceived to load a next URL in the visible instance 510 and invisibleinstance 514 of web browser 110. In an embodiment, the signal is atiming signal from the search module 120. For example, after apredetermined number of seconds, the timing signal may signal to loadthe next URL after a few seconds. In other embodiments, the signal isprovided by a user of user terminal 10. The user signal may be providedthrough a navigation control 730, such as described with FIG. 8.

If the determination in step 760 is positive, in step 770 the next URLpreviously loaded in the invisible instance 514 is loaded in the visibleinstance 510. In step 775, a determination is made as to whether the URLloaded in the visible instance 510 is the last URL in the search result.If so, then the process is done.

If there is another URL in the search result, the system 500 goes to thenext URL in step 780. The flow process is repeated for the next URL instep 740.

E. User-Interface

FIG. 8 illustrates a user-interface 800 for user terminal 10, under anembodiment of the invention. For purpose of description, user-interface800 is described with respect to Internet applications. Theuser-interface 800 may occupy a portion of a screen or monitor of userterminal 10. A portion of the screen or monitor may be dedicated todisplaying network resources of retrieved URLs.

In an embodiment, the user-interface 800 cooperates with web browser 110on user terminal 10. The user-interface 800 includes a display portion810 that displays web pages of retrieved URLs. A search field 820receives a search request as text entry. For example, key words such as“San Francisco” may be entered into the search field 820. Once thesearch request is entered, the system 100 returns URLs that match thesearch request to the web browser of user terminal 10. Then the webbrowser sequentially accesses the web sites corresponding to the URLs.The web browser displays a web page for each site before accessing thenext site. The web page for each site is displayed in display portion810 of user-interface 800.

The user-interface 800 includes a navigation control 830 to allow a userto navigate the display of web pages. In an embodiment, the web browser110 is programmatically controlled to display web pages sequentially, inan animated fashion. For example, web pages to all of the web sitesreturned in the search may be displayed in the manner of a slide show,where one web page is displayed, then a next, until of the web pages inthe search are shown. In an embodiment, a next web page may be displayeda predetermined time duration after a previous web page is displayed onthe display portion 810.

In an embodiment, the navigation control 830 is configured to providecontrols for a slide show. The navigation control may include a stopicon 832 that stops the that stops the slide show at a selected webpage. The navigation control 830 may include a pause icon 834 that canbe actuated to pause the slide show at the selected web page.Re-actuation of the pause icon 834 causes the slide show to continuefrom the selected web page. The navigation control 830 may also includea play icon 836 to cause the web browser to start displaying web pagesin the manner of a slide show. A skip icon 838 causes the web browser toload a next URL retrieved in the search, and to display the web page forthe next side. The skip icon 838 may be used to create the effect that anext slide was selected in the slide show. As mentioned in theembodiment of FIG. 4, a timing signal may serve as the default incausing the next web page to appear, unless the skip icon 838 isselected by the user. Alternative embodiments may use and arrange iconsas manual controls, such as found on remote controls or VCRs.

The user-interface 800 may also include a web browser portion 860. Theweb browser portion 860 may be used to display the URLs of the web pagesbeing displayed or loaded by the web browser component. Various webbrowser features may be provided with the web browser portion.

The user-interface 800 may also include a plurality of configurationfields. The configuration fields may be in the form of pull-down menus.A search selection menu 842 enables the user to select the search enginethat matches the user's preference. For example, the user may configurethe user-interface 800 to display specific search engines according tothe user's preferences. A search type menu 844 enables the user toselect the data type of the web resources for the search. For example,the user may select audio data type for music, or MPEG data types forspecific type of music. A configuration menu 846 enables a user toconfigure the manner in which the web pages for the retrieved URLs isdisplayed. For example, the configuration menu may provide for aselectable item that configures the timing signal, so that the web pagesare displayed faster or slow to the user.

F. Applications for Embodiments of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented in applications such asdescribed below.

In one application, an e-commerce site containing an internal searchengine is contacted by user terminal 10. The search module 120 receivesthe search request specific for the e-commerce site, and then signalsthe search request to the internal search engine of the e-commerce site.For example, the search request may be for a specific product orservice, such as books, music, and travel packages. The search result isthen signaled to search module 120, which outputs web pages for eachsearch result. Thus, a user may visually see prices and purchasinginformation for a product or service in response to a search request.

As an example, a user may enter an author name. The search module 120signals the internal search engine of the e-commerce site. The searchresult contains URLs to books by that author. The URLs are thensequentially and automatically displayed to the user. Thus, the user cansee the various books, along with purchasing information such as pricingand availability, in rapid succession, without having to select andreselect links to navigate between different products.

As another example, the e-commerce site may be an auction site. Theinternal search engine of the auction site may return various auctionsthat match the search criteria. The user is able to see each auctionsequentially, without having to select and reselect links to eachauction individually.

Travel packages may be displayed to the user in a similar manner. Thus,users may submit a search request to rapidly see pictures of resorts,along with pricing information and availability.

As another application, a message board may include an internal searchengine. The search request may specify content of messages. Each messagematching the search request may be automatically and sequentiallydisplayed to the user. Further, the user may configure the system todisplay messages for a certain duration, affording the user to read orskim each message. The navigation controls of search user-interface maybe used to add further controls to the user. Another application maydisplay message board threads to the user sequentially and in rapidsuccession.

G. Other Features and Alternative Embodiments

In other embodiments, the network resources corresponding to the firstone and/or the second one of the retrieved URLs may be an audio output,or a combination of an audio output and a video output. The audio orvideo output may be in addition or combination with other embodimentsdescribed above in which the resources are displayed items on thenetwork.

In another embodiment, the user-interface 700 includes a recorduser-interactive feature. The record feature may be selected to create alist of network sites that are of particular interest to the user. Forexample, a record icon may be selected once a web page is displayed,causing the URL web page to be stored in a favorite list. The favoritelist may subsequently be selected to display all or some of the webpages therein. In an embodiment, the recorded list may be selected sothat the network resources of the recorded URLs are replayed as aslide-show, or otherwise in an animated fashion.

In a variation, the user may select to add a URL of a web page beingdisplayed to a bookmark of the web browser.

In another embodiment, the system 100 provides an audible sound for eachnetwork site displayed.

H. Conclusion

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Manymodifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent.

1. A method according to embodiments described herein.
 2. A systemaccording to embodiments described herein.